Update at 12:08 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 15 – The Wabash Cannonball was not played before the game because of inclement weather affecting the pre-game and the lack of opportunity to play after scores according to Frank Tracz, band director.
“The band and I arrived at the indoor facility before 6 a.m. this morning to prepare for today,” Tracz said. “We always play the Wabash at our pre-game show. There was no pre-game shown due to severe weather.”
The Wabash Cannonball was played in the second half and again after the last rain delay. The band typically plays the Wabash Cannonball for kickoffs after they score. The band was able to hold true to that when the Wildcats kicked two field goals against Texas Christian University.
Related:
TCU defeats K-State at home
The Pride of Wildcat Land marching band did not play the Wabash Cannonball in the first half of the game against TCU this Saturday. It instead opted for segments of Wildcat Victory, Purple Haze and various short songs between defensive possessions.
This comes on the heels of director Frank Tracz cutting the Cannonball off in the beginning before the Baylor game, two weeks ago. At that game, the fans had begun a vulgar chant of ‘F*** KU’ during the Wabash Cannonball.
Tracz had said that he would continue to cut off the Wabash Cannonball every time the students chanted vulgarities over it and that he was tired of it. He said in an earlier article with the Collegian that the vulgar chant disrespects the work that the band puts into their performances.
ESPN had named the Wabash Cannonball the best pregame tradition in the conference over the offseason.
The Wildcats lost to the Horned Frogs, 26-6 after three different weather delays.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly cast doubt as to whether the absence of the Wabash Cannonball was related to the “F*** KU” chant or to the weather. The article has been updated to reflect the fact that the song was not played solely due to weather, which cancelled any pre-game rendition of the song, and the lack of Wildcat touchdowns in the first half. The Collegian sincerely apologizes for this factual error.
